Colletti: Dodgers 'parked at the curb' in Greinke talks

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Dodgers came to the Winter Meetings with expectations that they would be throwing money around. They left the sprawling Gaylord Opryland Resort Thursday having made only one large expenditure – an organizational dinner at Morton's Steakhouse Wednesday night.

Dodgers GM Ned Colletti met multiple times with Casey Close, the agent for free-agent right-hander Zack Greinke, but said he did not feel "on the doorstep" of getting a deal done with Greinke, their top target, or any other player who would satisfy their desire to add a top-tier starter to their rotation.

"We're not even on the front lawn," Colletti joked, extending the metaphor. "We haven't even gotten out of the car yet. We're still parked at the curb.

"It's better than driving around the neighborhood, looking for the house. We do know where the house is located. We just can't seem to get out of the car."

Colletti did concede that his discussions with Greinke's agent have progressed from what he described as the "due diligence," information-gathering mode Close was in earlier this week. It was fair to describe those talks now as "negotiations," Colletti agreed. But he would not say if an offer has been made by the Dodgers and wouldn't go so far as to describe himself as "cautiously optimistic" the Dodgers will be able to land Greinke.

"I don't live in a 'cautiously-optimistic' world," he said. "It's either done or it's not done. It's not done."

The Dodgers might have the willingness, resources and motivation to top any offer Greinke gets from another team. But a number of factors – including his wife's connection to the Dallas area and the absence of a state income tax in Texas – have fueled speculation that the Rangers are now the frontrunners to sign the top pitching prize on this year's free agent market. The Rangers are also reportedly involved in discussions of a multi-team deal that would land them outfielder Justin Upton from the Diamondbacks as well as a trade that would send Michael Young to the Phillies. Those deals would eliminate the Rangers' need to sign their own free agent outfielder, Josh Hamilton, and possibly free up more money to chase Greinke.

"I have no idea," Colletti said when asked if he had a feel for when Greinke might make a decision.

While the battle for Greinke has apparently narrowed down to a two-team race, Colletti insisted the Dodgers' focus remains wider than just Greinke. In a limited market for the type of starter the Dodgers are seeking (someone who would fit in the "upper half" of their rotation behind Clayton Kershaw), Colletti said he has moved forward on parallel tracks with "two or three" other starters that could be acquired via free agency or trade and landing one of them is "still the goal."

That group appears to be limited to free-agent right-handers Anibal Sanchez and Kyle Lohse and Mets knuckleballer R.A. Dickey, a long shot to be acquired by trade. The Mets considered offers for the reigning Cy Young Award winner during this week's meetings (he can be a free agent after 2013) but were under-whelmed by those offers. Dickey (who lives in the Nashville area) also visited the Opryland resort to meet with Mets officials to discuss a contract extension.

"Too many factors are involved to project a result or begin to project a result," Colletti said.